Deck the Halls originated in Wales, Great Britain in the 16th century. It was written by John Ceirog Hughes and called it “Nos Galan”. Mozart used the tune and played it on the violin. The modern words are said to originate in America. The old lyrics went:
Cold is the man who can’t love,
The old mountains of dear Wales,
To him and his warmest friend,
A cheerful holiday next year.
To the troubled, cold are the bills,
Which come during the holidays,
Listening to a sermon in one verse,
Spending more than you earn,
Cold is the snow on Mount Snowdon,
Even though it has a flannel blanket on it,
Cold are the people who don’t care,
To meet together on New Year’s Eve.
Solfege
D R M F S
The New Lyrics: Deck the halls with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la, la la la, la la la. Troll the ancient Yule tide carol, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Strike the harp and join the chorus. Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la la la, la la la la. While I tell of Yule tide treasure, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together, Fa la la la la, la la la la. Heedless of the wind and weather, Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Cold is the man who can’t love,
The old mountains of dear Wales,
To him and his warmest friend,
A cheerful holiday next year.
To the troubled, cold are the bills,
Which come during the holidays,
Listening to a sermon in one verse,
Spending more than you earn,
Cold is the snow on Mount Snowdon,
Even though it has a flannel blanket on it,
Cold are the people who don’t care,
To meet together on New Year’s Eve.
Solfege
D R M F S
The New Lyrics:
Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
While I tell of Yule tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous, all together,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
-Tyce N.